New St Paul’s plan

Sep 26 2008 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

PLANS to inject a new lease of life into St Paul’s Church moved a stage further this week after a charitable group was established to resurrect the 200-year-old building.

Members of the public, formerly associated with the St Paul’s Action Group, met on Monday to thrash out proposals in the Fair City’s Gateway Centre.

The meeting, also attended by representatives from Perth and Kinross Council, resulted in a Friends of St Paul’s group being created in place of the action group – designed to help find a use for the dilapidated building in conjunction with the council and the building’s owners, AOC Archaeology.

Earlier this year conditional planning permission was granted to turn the site into a JD Wetherspoon’s real ale, food and wine bar, only for the plug to be pulled due to “excessive costs”.

Avril Davidson, spokesperson for the new group, said: “The meeting was a positive step to finding a solution for the use of St Paul’s.

“It was needed because it gave an opportunity for people to air their views – there were are a lot of issues to settle.

“We will be having another meeting in three week’s time to seek advice on becoming a registered charity.

“The newly-formed Friend’s of St Paul’s group wants to support Perth and Kinross Council and the building’s owners in order to resolve what has been a difficult problem,” she said.

Anyone wishing to join Friends of St Paul’s is asked to email: Avril on stpaulsactiongroup@uk2.net.